



HERO OF THE LURA 
CAVERNS 



ii« 




By 
WALTER A. TUTTLE 








TONGO 
2 



T O N G O 

the 

HERO OF THE LURAY CAVERNS 

BY 

Walter A. Tuttle 



The pictures of the Caverns, illustrating this story, are 
copyrighted by the Luray Caverns Company. 



Otto Ulbrich Co., Buffalo, N. Y 
Publishers 



7 






C1A658710 



MAR 18 '22 



THE MASTER 



From out the Master's wilderness 
He brought the sturdy Elm and Oak. 
From mouths of those of humblest walk 
The Master's Spirit often spoke. 

He raised the towering mountains high 
Above the Valley's fertile plain. 
Then with His fingers traced the path 
His servants need not walk in vain. 

He gave the wondrous pine clad hills 
Of dear Luray. Though plain they seemed, 
He placed beneath their humble crest 
Such wonders man had never dreamed. 



"* ^ '^ ^it^l. 



COPYRIGHT BY 

Walter A. Tuttle, Buffalo, N. Y. 



PREFACE 

In the year 1878, nearly fourteen hundred years after 
the time of the events in this story, the cave, discovered by 
the Indian hero of this tale, was rediscovered by Mr. William 
and Mr. Andrew Campbell, in company with Mr. Benton 
Stebbins. 

It is located in a hill outside the village of Luray, 
Virginia. Later explorations revealed the bones of our 
hero, found in Skeleton Gorge. As you visit the cave, today, 
they, or what remains of them, will be pointed out to you 
by the guide. They are imbedded in the semi-transparent 
dripstone which, for these centuries, has formed over them. 

There also still rests the Giant Chair in his chamber. 
There still hang the curtains from the ceiling of the cavern, 
nearly thirty feet above, reaching nearly to the floor, drawn 
back from either side as though by the hand of the Almighty, 
inviting your entrance. 

There is the Silver Sea, and when you stand upon its 
shore and view its crystal clearness and wonderful reflections, 
you will not wonder that the Hero of our story was overcome 
by the glory of his surroundings. 

The original entrance to the caverns is entirely oblit- 
erated and its location will probably never be known. 

I wish, here to express my appreciation of the sugges- 
tions by Dr. F. C. Northcott, the owner of the Caverns, and 
for the pictures which he furnished for this publication. 

The major portion of the bones of our Hero were 
removed during April, 1921, and placed in the National 
Museum, at Washington. 

Walter A. Tuttle 



TONGO 



About the year 500 A. D., there lived an Indian, with 
his tribe, in a little village on the banks of the James River, 
nearly thirty miles above what is now Newport News, and 
close to the present site of Williamsburg, where the river 
Ijends to the southward, on its journey to the ocean. 

He was tall, straight, with jet black hair; his features 
were not as round as many of the present day Indians; 
rather, they were long and, on the whole, sensitively formed. 
He had a piercing, but kindly eye, and there was something 
about him which attracted rather than repelled one. 

Although his people were warlike, as, indeed, all Indian 
tribes of that day were (often from necessity rather than 
choice) , so gentle and peaceful was the nature of this Indian 
that all were strongly drawn to him but he never let his 
peaceful tendency stand in the way, at any time, of protect- 
ing and fighting for his people, when other tribes essayed 
to come down upon their village, to pillage, as they were 
wont to do. He was a very fast runner, and his people 
called him "Swiftfoot" because he had been known to over- 
take a deer in a straight race and dispatch him with a club. 

Swiftfoot became very proficient as a scout so that his 
people depended upon him, to a great extent, for protection ; 
he became so well known to the neighboring tribes, both 



friends and enemies, that they began to think it was useless 
to try to pillage his people, since Swiftfoot would always 
know of their approach and warn them. It had become 
second nature to him to move cautiously and noiselessly, 
making it difficult for an enemy to surprise his tribe. 

One day, when Swiftfoot was out hunting, he traveled 
farther to the northward than was his custom. The day had 
been bright and all animals and birds had seemed to go to 
secluded places. He had not been very fortunate in taking 
game and, as the day began to wane, he found himself many 
miles from home, near one of the large rivers of that part of 
the country, when, just in front of him, he saw something 
moving. Cautiously opening the branches, he saw silhouetted 
against the back ground of the sky and the river, a beautiful 
Indian maiden. As he looked at her his heart began to yearn 
with love for her; when she passed on, he followed afar off 
so that, if possible, he might find where she lived and who 
her people were. He found she was of the tribe of the 
Rappahanocks, with whom his people were at war, so he 
returned with a sad heart. He told his people how he had 
seen this maiden and how he had instantly loved her. 
Because of their great love and respect for Swiftfoot, his 
people immediately set about to make peace with the Rap- 
pahanocks and arranged for the tribes to come together for 
a parley, and peace offerings were given. They then found 
the maiden was the daughter of the Chief of the tribe and 
that she was called "Smiling Blossom" because she was as 
lovely as a flower and always happy. When they made 
known their wish, the Chief brought his daughter to meet 
Swiftfoot and said- "If my daughter chooses, she may take 



the son of the tribe of our enemies, and we will ever be friends 
and at peace but if she does not choose, then we will go to 
our homes and be apart and as we have ever been." 

So Swiftfoot and Smiling Blossom went by themselves 
for a short space of time; Smiling Blossom found the echo 
of Swiftfoot's love in her own heart. When they returned. 
Smiling Blossom said to her people, "I wish Swiftfoot for 
my brave." A great shout rose from both tribes. Gathering 
in a circle, they smoked the pipe of peace, pledged everlasting 
friendship and Swiftfoot took his bride to his own home. 
After a little they established their lodge on the banks of the 
James River, on the edge of the village where his people 
lived, and they began to live in their own home, apart from 
Swiftfoot's parents. 



11 



TONGO'S YOUTH 



To Swiftfoot and Smiling Blossom were born two 
children, a son and a daughter. The son, from early infancy, 
bore a great resemblance to his father, and they named him 
"Tongo, son of Swiftfoot." As he grew, he was schooled 
in all the Indian craft of the day but never could he run like 
his father, although, when he was the age of ten, he could 
stalk a deer or shoot straight enough to kill birds and smaller 
animals. He had the idea of peace much more firmly fixed 
in his nature than either of his parents and he used to grieve 
so greatly about the warlike tendencies of his own tribe and 
of the tribes that used to make war against them that his 
father feared it would greatly impair his ability as a scout. 
Tongo was also of a deep inquiring mind, so that the ques- 
tions he would expound led his people to call him, also, 
"Deep Thinker." 

Tongo's sister, who was three years younger, was slight 
of build and as she grew older, she developed her mother's 
beauty ; she was swift of foot, like her father and far fleeter 
than her brother Tongo. There was no one she so adored as 
she did her brother and whatever he said was truth to her. 
Their close companionship was so marked that she was called 
"The Follower" but Tongo always called her "Bright Eyes." 

On the edge of the village there lived an old arrow 
maker, who had become unable to hunt or fight longer for 

12 




13 



his people so, for a living, he made arrows and bows, for 
others. He became a great friend of Tongo and made him 
a small bow and gave him a fine carved quiver of arrows, 
with which the lad would play and, in his small way, hunt 
as did his elders ; so Tongo greatly loved the old arrow maker. 

One day, when he was about eight years old, he wand- 
ered away and was gone so long that his parents became so 
alarmed about him that they roused the villagers to search 
the woods and swamps near the village for him. At last they 
found him, back from the river, on the edge of one of the 
swamps, where he had gathered a pile of clam shells and 
was breaking them open to find, as he told his parents, the 
rainbow within the shells. When they took him home, he 
brought the shells home also and said to his mother, "How 
did the shells get the rainbows inside?" And his mother 
answered, "The clams must have had their shell opened and 
caught the ends of the rainbow when it passed by; but they 
are black and dirty; throw them out, my son." But Tongo 
replied: "They are like the old arrow maker, mother; he is 
not beautiful to look at but he is kind and I love him. He 
gave me this bow and these arrows. We should not look at 
the outside, but at the heart, should we mother? The shell 
is black and dirtj^ on the outside but inside it is more beautiful 
than anything I have ever seen." And his mother did not 
answer; she was pondering the sayings of her son, in her 
heart. 

One day his sister brought in a handful of wild rice, 
just as it was in bloom. He reprimanded her for doing 
it, which greatly grieved the tender heart of Bright Eyes, 

15 



as Tongo rarely spoke harshly to his sister. "Tongo, you 
do not love me any more," said Bright Eyes. But the next 
morning Tongo showed his sister those same blossoms and 
they were all withered away and had lost their beauty. Then 
he said: "Come with me, Bright Eyes" and he led her to the 
river's edge and showed her the blossoms on the growing 
stalk; then where some had fallen; then where it began to 
develop the seed. "Now", said he, "when tliese are picked in 
their bloom, the}" simply wither away and are gone; but 
when they are left, they develop into seed which we can then 
gather and it will be of use for food to keep us alive. Now, 
my sister, suppose the wild rice stalk gave all its strength 
to being beautiful, there would be no seed for you and me. 
You are, indeed, beautiful, my sister, and I love to see you 
so, but a thousand times more do I love to see the good 
things you can do. The blossom is surely a beauty but it is 
only the center around which its usefulness grows." 

One night, when Tongo was twelve j^ears old, he was 
sitting in the twilight with his father, just outside the wig- 
wam door, when a nightingale flew to a limb nearby and 
began to sing his sweetest carol. As thc}^ listened, Tongo 
said to his father, "Father, why does the nightingale sing 
only in the twilight and why is he so plain, yet sings so 
wonderfully?" And Swiftfoot said, "Listen, my son, and 
I will tell you. Many summers ago, when men lived in a 
much plainer way than we do now, they were not able to 
stand the light of the sun, where dwells the Great Spirit 
that controls the world, for men were not yet strong or wise 
enough to bear it. So they then dwelt in caves and the Great 
Spirit commanded them that they should hunt only in the 

16 



twilight or in the night, else there should something befall 
them; in time they might become wise enough to stand the 
light of the Almighty. But, like most children of the present 
day, there was one who would not obey ; he came out into the 
light, transgressing the commandment of the Great Spirit. 
When, from his golden chariot in the heavens, the Great 
Spirit saw him walking in the light, he came and touched 
liim, and said, 'My child, why are you walking in the light 
when I bade thee be abroad only at the twilight?' " 

"And the disobedient one replied, 'Am I not strong and 
able to bear the day?' The Great Spirit rebuked him, say- 
ing, 'Art thou wiser than thy master? It is not for thee to 
say, 'I am strong but it is for thee to obey.' And he touched 
the one who did the wrong and said, 'For this transgression 
thou shalt become a bird of the plainest plumage of any in 
the forest, ; but the disobedient one j^leaded with the Master 
that he should not leave him thus but give him at least some 
sign of redemption. And the Master said, 'Yes, I will. 
Though thou shalt be the plainest of all in plumage, yet thou 
shalt be the sweetest of all singers, but shall sing only in the 
twilight.' " 

Deep Thinker pondered this in his heart and finally said, 
"Father, what is it that he hath commanded us and what is 
the law we should obey, and when do we transgress?" 

The father answered, "We should always do to others 
as we are willing they should do to us, and when we do not 
do this, we transgress." 

"Then, father, why do we war against the neighboring 

17 



tribes and take that which belongs to them and kill the older 
ones and take their children away?" asked Tongo. 

"This" Swiftfoot answered, "is war. Manj" years ago 
the tribes of the "Uplands" came down to the river here and 
surprised our peoj^le and killed many and carried awaj^ many 
children and much goods ; since then the heart of our brothers 
has been sore and revenge has been sweet. So we have lost 
no opportunity to revenge the blood of our fathers." 

"Then why, father, do we not war also with the Sem- 
inoles, the Soutli tribe, but are always at peace with them?" 

Swiftfoot replied: "jMany years ago there was bitter 
hatred between the Seminoles and our tribe; but they came 
one day and asked for a parley, and the chief said: 'AVhy do 
we not have peace?' and our fathers said, 'For many years 
you have pillaged our villages and taken our young men and 
girls captive; how can we have peace except we take blood 
for blood r Then a stalwart brave stepped forward and said, 
'That, indeed is true; blood for blood must be given. Here 
is my blood for my j)eople; let your noblest warrior now 
come and pierce me to death, and let our people be at peace.' 
So he was slain that day for his people and since then there 
lias ever been peace and good will between the Seminoles 
and the River Tribe." 

"Then", said Deep Thinker, "are there no more brave 
nten left that we still have war?" And his father could not 
answer. 

The next day Tongo came to his father and said, 
"Father, who controls all things, and who is the Great One?" 

18 




The Saracens Tent. Hanging in beautiful translucent folds 
from overhanging rocks over thirty feet above the floor. 



19 



And the father answered, "The Great Spirit rules the 
world; He dwells in the sun and is the brightness of it. We 
can plead with him in the day but at night we cannot, for 
then he is at sleep." 

"Where then, father, does he sleep?" 

"Far out, to the westward, there is a mighty cave, and 
the sun travels until he comes over the cave; he then enters 
the cave and there takes his rest. In the morning he goes 
out over the sea and again begins his daily circuit." 

"Why, then, father, does not some one go to his cave 
and there plead with the Great Spirit, that peace may come 
to all tribes?" 

Thoughtfully Swiftfoot replied, "It is very far and no 
one can talk with the Great Spirit, face to face, and still live ; 
but, no doubt, were it possible, peace might come to us all," 
and Swiftfoot sighed as he remembered the many brave 
comrades he had seen fall in the awful wars his tribe had had 
in the past. 

Deep Thinker said nothing to any one of what thoughts 
and desires then and there took root in his pure heart. 



21 



TOXGO'S HIGH RESOLVE 



After two years, when Tongo was fourteen years old, 
he came to his father and said, "Some one must redeem all 
people from the curse of war, and I must go to find the sun- 
cave and plead with the Great Spirit to give us peace." But 
his father cried, "No, Xo! I must not lose my only son; 
you cannot go!" 

Then Tongo pleaded with his mother, but she said, as 
did his father, "Xo, my son, we cannot yet give you up." 

But Bright Eyes put her arms around his neck and said, 
"Tongo, it is very hard for me, but if you say it is right, it 
surely must be right for you to go ; if you do go, I will pray 
to the Great Spirit every day for you, that He may let you 
come back." 

Tongo gently replied, "Xo, I will not go until my father 
consents, as 1 could not see the Great Spirit unless I had 
obeyed nw father." But the matter lay heavily on his heart 
and as the time passed by and he grew more and more in 
strength and stature, he sought more diligently for some 
way in which he might influence his father to let him go. 

One day, while he was passing through the fields when 
the maize was young, he pulled up a plant and on the end 
of it was a kernel ; on examining it he found the kernel was 

22 







23 



decayed and dead but that the new life was very promising. 
So he brought it to his father and showed it to him, telling 
him how, if the kernel had not died, there would be no life 
at all from it. He said, "Father, I must go to the Sim 
Cave" ; but still his father denied him and Tongo sadly turned 
away saying, "I will abide for the present." 

About half a mile from their wigwam, on the bank of 
the river, was a large rock, somewhat higher than a man's 
head, with a flat space on the top about four feet square. 
Here, morning and evening, Tongo came to call upon the 
Sun, begging that in some way he might be permitted to go 
to the Cave in the West, the home of the Great Spirit. But 
no answer seemed to come to him. He did not tell his sister 
at first but she soon found that he was going to the rock for 
she had followed after him, seeming to know why he had 
gone and sympathizing with him. 

So he continued his prayers to the Great Spirit, plead- 
ing that by some means he might be shown his duty ; to know 
if he were right and if he was to go to the Sun Cave or not. 
The answer had not as yet come. 

One day, with downcast brow, he went, as was his 
custom, to the rock of his prayers. The sky was over- 
cast with dark clouds completely obscuring the sun; still 
Tongo mounted his rock and looked toward the place where 
the sun should be. He cried, "Now, Great Spirit, tell me 
my duty. What shall I do and how shall I come unto 
Thee?" and at once the clouds opened and a shaft of light, 
from the sun, shone full upon him, while he was standing 
on the rock. 

25 



Bright Eyes, coming up at that moment, saw him stand- 
ing there, with the light shining upon him and on no other 
place, and she fled, afraid, to her home. From that time, 
Tongo seemed to feel he should make every effort to go to 
the Cave and fulfill his mission. 

At this time Tongo w^as fifteen years old and exceed- 
ingly strong for his age; he was well skilled in the craft of 
the woods and in hunting and, although liis father was very 
proud of him, there was always that feeling that there was 
something more than usual about him that seemed to 
draw him away. So his father, in his anxiety, was more 
watchful than he would have been, to keep him at home. 
Owing to his father's refusal to let him go, Tongo did not 
confide in his father so much, but he and his sister communed 
often together and he would say, "My sister, I am called and 
I must go, but how shall I go?" 

Bright Eyes would answer: "Our father and mother 
will not let you go and there is no way except to disobey 
them and go." 

Yes, but if I do that," said Tongo, "the Great Spirit 
will not hear me. This thing will I do, my sister ; I will get 
my eagle feathers and then my father will not deny me." 

But Bright Eyes said, "Xo one has gained his eagle 
feathers before he w^as nineteen or twenty years old, and 
how will you?" 

But Tongo w^ould not be discouraged and replied, "Am 
1 not strong? I -will not fail; so I must try." 



26 



TOXGO WINS HIS FREEDOM 



It was a custom, generally observed among all the 
tribes, that as soon as any joiing man took his eagle feathers, 
he was pronounced of age and was no longer under the 
authority and direction of the older ones, and he was then 
declared a full-fledged warrior. 

The feathers must be taken in this wise. The eagle 
must be taken with the naked hands, before the bird was 
wounded, and the feathers plucked out by the hunter; then 
if the bird was slain, by the hunter, so much the more honor. 
So Tongo set about his task of taking his eagle. He searched 
for many days until he found where an eagle had made his 
nest. He built his booth and so concealed it that anyone 
coming that way could not tell it from the surrounding 
bushes. 

When everything was in readiness, he went out with his 
bow and arrow to get a deer; this was soon captured and 
from it he cut a piece of meat, which he fastened to the top 
of his booth. Many long days he watched and waited for 
the eagle to spy the meat and come to take it. Many times 
he changed the meat, but the eagle sored high above his 
booth, never once seeming to notice the tempting bit pre- 
pared for him. Until one day when Tongo had almost lost 
hope, he looked through the brush of his booth ; circling high 

27 



above him, but apparently noticing the meat for the first 
time, was the eagle. He was coming! Yes, he was coming! 
Tongo nerved himself for the great battle he knew must 
come. If only he could win! 

As the huge bird swooped upon the meat, fastening his 
talons in it, Tongo sprang forth and seized the eagle's leg. 
Then began a terrific fight. Well for Tongo that his years 
spent in traversing the woods, swimming against the current, 
packing heavy loads, had so hardened his young muscles that 
the frantic efforts of the eagle (whose strength is so great 
it can easily carry off a young child in its talons) were of no 
avail. Tongo knew he must not permit the eagle to spread 
his strong wings, else he would meet defeat. 

With one hand he bent the head of the eagle down to 
prevent the fierce thrusts of his vicious beak, that could so 
swiftly pluck out his eyes; with the other hand he struggled 
to force upward the powerful wing which beat back and 
forth with almost irresistible force. Tongo, nearly spent, 
gave a mighty wrench and, with a snap, the wing hung help- 
less at the eagle's side. This freed Tongo's right hand, 
giving him an opportunity to seize his club, lying ready and 
quickly was the eagle put out of his misery and Tongo into a 
paradise of joy! 

But it was characteristic of Tongo's noble nature that 
his first thought was not of the glory that would come to him 
from winning the precious "feathers" while a mere lad, but 
that the victory woidd now make possible his unselfish search 
for the Great Spirit. 

28 




Id 



29 



Sore and bleeding, he bore his trophy home in triumph. 
He had gained his feathers! 

When he arrived at his village, great was the surprise 
of his peojile that so young a lad as he had been able to take 
the feathers as he was the youngest that had ever gained 
that honor in all the tribe. No one could have been filled 
with greater pride, not even Tongo himself, than were his 
parents, over his achievement, which had given him the 
highest honor possible to anyone. But, with the joy was a 
sad foreboding, because this act gave him the right to act 
independently of his father's will. 

Owing to the extraordinary aspects of the case, and their 
love for the lad, Tongo, and his parents, the villagers made 
a great celebration in Tongo's honor. The appointed day 
arrived, when all the members of the tribe came together for 
the event. Tongo, dressed in his eagle feathers, came forth, 
accompanied by his father. His mother, and Bright Eyes, 
as was the custom of the Indians, followed about three paces 
behind the braves. 

As they formed a semi-circle at the opening of Swift- 
foot's lodge, he spoke to them- "My neighbors, I bid you wel- 
come. There are here many brave warriors^ who have fought 
for the safety of our people and who have revenged the 
wrongs that have been committed against us. My heart is 
filled with great pride today, as I present to you my son, 
Tongo, the Brave, who is the youngest of our tribe ever to 
gain his eagle feathers, and now, if you wish to accept him, 
as a Brave and a Warrior, do so, I have spoken." 

ai 



The tribe, with one accord, rose and spoke: "He is our 
brother Brave. We accept him." 

Then Swiftfoot turned and said- "Tongo, you have 
today done us a great honor, to be accepted by your people 
as a Warrior, while yet so young ; in return for the honor you 
have done us, if there is anything I can grant unto you, 
speak." 

Then Tongo stepped forward, saying, "JNIy father and 
my people, it is my great desire to bring peace to you and to 
all tribes, so I pray you, let me go and search for the Cave 
where the Sun dwells and speak with the Great Spirit, and 
see Him face to face; perchance he will give peace to my 
people for a thousand winters." 

His father bowed his head in bitter grief before all the 
people; he said, "My son, no one shall see the Great Sjiirit 
face to face and live. But as thy spirit is set these many 
moons to go, I cannot refuse thee. Go, and may that peace, 
so dearly bought, come to us all." And all the people said, 
"Go, Tongo, and may the Great Spirit guide thee." But, 
with heavy hearts thej^ said it, as they all loved the boy, who, 
from that time on began to make his preparations to depart. 



32. 



PREPARING FOR THE QUEST 



Tongo first went to the old arrow maker, who lived at 
one edge of the village and asked him to make a full quiver 
of arrows for him. He wished for a new bow, that he might 
have as good as any in the tribe and the old arrow maker 
said to him, "I will, indeed, make you the finest arrows that 
I have ever made, so that your quiver may be full of the 
straightest arrows ever formed. But what is this I hear, 
Tongo, about your going away to search for the home of the 
Great Spirit?" 

And Tongo rej^lied, "I must go to the Great Spirit, 
else our tribes will alwaj^s be warring." 

But the arrow maker pleaded with Tongo; "Do not go; 
do we not all love you? and whoever may be successful in 
finding the Great Spirit may never come back to his people 
again. You have shown that you will make a good warrior. 
Now stay, my son, and fight the battles of your people, and 
revenge the deeds of our enemies against us." 

"But", said Tongo, "is it not better that I should go 
and seek the Great Spirit, who is able to give peace, than to 
simply revenge my people and cause a death for a death?" 

Then the old arrow maker told him how, years before, 
a promising young man started out to find the Cave of the 
Sun and that afterward they found his body, lying on a hill 

33 



in tJie forest, torn and destroyed bj- wolves. "Now, why 
should you give yourself for naught?" 

"It is not for naught, my good old friend. Is it not 
after the rain that all nature is refreshed? Suppose, then, 
tlie cloud should say 'I will not empty myself upon the earth 
hut will keep all for myself; would not the earth then be 
parched and dry and all things perish? So it will be with 
my people; should I withhold myself, they will suffer many 
things and perish from the face of the earth. Do not I love 
them as they love me? and for this cause, am I not giving 
myself so they may be saved?" 

And the old arrow maker could not answer the lad ; but, 
at last he said, "If your heart is set upon it, my brave lad, 
go; and may the Spirit of the Mighty One protect you in 
}our journey, and when you go, do not go directly toward 
the West, but go to the Xorth-west, as from that way the 
rivers come. When you come to the land where the rivers 
run to the north, then go directly toward the place of the 
setting sun. If the Great Spirit has mercy on you, he will 
bring you to his resting place and every arrow I make for 
you the Sun shall bless, and the bow I will bend at his rising, 
and the testing arrow I w^ill shoot at his going down. But 
come within the wigwam, my son, and let me tell thee of the 
Great Spirit." So when they were seated the old arrow 
maker said, "Many j^ears ago, Avhen I was a lad, a great 
medicine man gave me a robe made of the skin of the white 
deer and I have treasured it these many Avinters. He told 
me it was great medicine and very holy. He once had a 
glimpse of the Great Spirit and He was clothed about his 

Si 




o 
en 



u 

B 






35 



shoulders with a white deer skin robe. In His head covering, 
He wore the holy eagle feather; the center quill of the eagle's 
tail; and He held in His hand a flaming torch." 

"I have loved you, my boy, and I wish you to be clothed 
with the most holy garments." 

The old arrow maker then arose and took from beneath 
his couch the white robe and placed it on the shoulders of 
Tongo, blessed him and bid him go. 

But Tongo's temptations were not at an end, for with 
all his love for his people, he loved his father and mother and 
his sister greater than them all. So he made great haste to 
depart, for he feared he might relent because of their plead- 
ings with him to stay and so he would turn away from his 
purpose; only his sister, Bright Eyes, held her peace and 
gave him encouragement, though, perhaps, it was a greater 
sacrifice to her than to any of the rest, as the two were so 
closely bound together. But Tongo's greatest trial was the 
Great Medicine men of the tribe, who came to his father's 
lodge. There, they kindled a fire before it, burning herbs 
for incense, and calling upon the Great Spirit for him. They 
brought a young fawn before the fire, slew it, and dipped 
their fingers in the blood. Turning to Tongo, they said, 
"Thus shall thy blood drip from thy veins, unless you stay 
with your people." Then they tore the body of the fawn 
with throngs and said, "So shall thy body be torn by beasts 
and briars." And his heart was very sore and his soul dis- 
tressed. He went to his prayer rock and called upon the 
Great Spirit from the rising of the sun to its going down. 

m 



When he returned, his parents said to him, "Will you 
still go, my son?" 

Tongo steadily replied, "Yes, I will go. Is it not where 
the fire sweeps through the forest that the best berries grow? 
They would not and could not have grown there before; so 
will I go to bring peace to my people, though my path be 
through thorns and briars — yes, and even through fires and 
days of suffering." And, on the morrow, he slung the quiver 
of arrows that the old arrow maker had made for him, over 
his brave young shoulders, and took such provisions as he 
could carry easilj^, and started off on his perilous journey. 
His father and mother, not bearing to see liis departure, had 
gone sorrowing to their tent but Bright Eyes said, "I am 
going a day's journey with you." 



38 




C 
S 

o 



o 

c 
o 



c 
o 



V 



39 



TONGO'S DEPARTURE 



Sd they started off together. They did not follow a 
well beaten trail, but as nearly northwest as they could 
judge, through unbroken forests, as the old arrow maker 
had directed him. Bright Eyes held close to his path, as 
though she could not let him go, and her tender heart was 
very sad. Toward evening they came to the bank of a small 
stream and, as this seemed a fair camping place, there they 
made tlieir camp for the night. 

After they had kindled a fire and had eaten their meal 
of venison and maize, they arose and Bright Ej^es came and 
put her arms around Tongo and said, "My brother, why 
must you leave me? You know I love you as I love no one 
else. I know the rough paths of your journey; they will be 
over rocks and through swamps and rivers; I know the 
dangers and the trials ahead of you; it seems as though my 
heart would break as I come to part with you!" 

Thus they stood, for a time, in the twilight, with their 
arms around each other ; Tongo said no word, except to him- 
self — "Tongo, be strong!" Then he turned and led her over 
to the bank of the stream and said, "Look, Bright Ej^es, into 
the water; do you see the rocks in its way? How the river 
hits the rocks, flows around them and then on its way again, 

41 



ever seeking the big ocean? Hear it shout for the simple 
joy of conquering these obstacles." 

Then they walked to the foot of the rapids and he 
pointed again and said, "My sister, see, the water is resting 
in peace; so will it be with my journey. It may be, as you 
say, through thorns and briars I must travel, and with weary 
heart and limb, but peace is beyond it all; that is what 
strengthens me. Now, dear, dear sister, be strong and brave; 
take care of father and mother until I return, if, perchance, 
I may return, that they may know that I love them as I 
know you love them." Then they walked back to the camp 
and made their preparations for the night. 

Tongo slept soundly but Bright Eyes lay for hours, 
awake, grieving over the parting so soon to come. Once she 
arose and went to where Tongo lay, and looked into his face, 
which she could see from the faint light of their dying fire; 
there was such a peaceful, happy look there that she almost 
repented herself that she should sorrow while he had such 
confidence. Comforted, she went back, rolled herself again 
in her blanket and at last slept, nor did she awake until 
Tongo had kindled the fire and was cooking their morning 
meal. In silence they ate, for their thoughts were sad enough 
at the parting so soon to come. As the sun began to mount 
the sky, Tongo arose, and said: "The time has come; I must 
set my face toward my journey's end." 

Bright Eyes came and put her arms around him, and 
said, "Why must you go? I love you as only a sister can." 

"Do not I also love you? and do not I love my father 
and mother? Do not I love my people ? It is because of the 



42 




43 



greatness of this love, dear sister, that I am going! It may 
be that I shall bring peace to them. So, dear sister, farewell! 
I shall think always of j^ou and it will help me to think of 
jour steadfast love. Now go and take my place, as far as 
you can, with my father and mother, until I return, if it is to 
be I may return." 

And Bright Eyes said, bravely, "I will do as you say 
and I will go, morning and evening, to the prayer rock and 
pray the Great Spirit that He will hear you and care for 
you. 



4S 



TOXGO SEEKS THE GREAT SPIRIT 



Then Tongo walked away and when he had entirely 
disappeared Bright Eyes, bowing herself toward the sun, 
said, "Great Spirit, help and care for my brother." Slowly 
she made her way back through the forests, till she reached 
her home but she could not go in until she had gone to the 
prayer rock to pray for her brother. When she came at last 
to the wigwam, she found her father and mother, sitting in 
silent mourning for their son. 

And so, once more Tongo set forth on his weary journey 
and well did he need the high courage he possessed. As the 
days passed, poor Tongo was called upon to bear hardships, 
such as he had never known before. Not realizing how far 
his quest would lead him, he had failed to provide himself 
with sufficient food, so that keen hunger was his constant 
companion. 

His course, too, laj^ through thorny stretches, where 
cruel briars pierced his flesh; rocky hills, almost mountains, 
he wearily crossed; swift running streams that must be 
forded, offered their perils. At night, the far off sound of 
mountain wolves caused his very soul to shrink in natural 
fear. IVIany days he would go only a short distance, owing 
to the rough travel, as he did not follow the trail, but went 
through unbroken forest. 



But hungry, cold, bruished, though he was, not once 
did Tongo dream of turning back. Always and ever his 
brave spirit looked ahead to the time, when all his weary 
pilgrimage done, he would see the Great Spirit face to face 
and plead for the coveted peace for his people, yes, for all 
mankind, for Tongo's great heart craved peace for the whole 
world. 

Always he traveled toward the place where the sun 
disappeared. He would watch each day, at the setting of the 
sun, to see if he was drawing nearer, but it always seemed 
as far off as ever. One day, at dusk, after he had been 
traveling many days, as he was about to make his camp, he 
looked ahead and saw a light, as though it was a camp fire. 
He drew cautiously near to see who had kindled it. As he 
stood there, suddenh^ a hand was placed on each shoulder 
and two young Indians stood, one on either side of him, 
demanding to know who he was. He said: "A Friend"; 
but they took him with them to their camp and the older 
ones examined him. They were much impressed with his 
bearing and surprised at so young a boy having gained his 
Eagle Feathers. They asked him if he was not of the river 
tribe and he told them that he was. Then he related his 
story; his high endeavor to search for the dwelling place of 
the Sun, to plead for the peace of all people. But they told 
him that it was a great way off, and tried to dissuade him, 
saying he could never find the Sun Cave and return again. 

But when he told them how the clouds had parted and 
the sun had shone forth as a symbol for his mission, thej'^ felt 

47 



that he was right and said: "Go, my son, and we will aid 
you on your way." 

They kept him that night, supplied him with provisions 
for his joruney and encouraged him to keep on. AVhen he 
asked the name of the country, they told him "The place of 
the Shenandoah people; and to the westward, beyond the 
mountain, there is a very beautiful valley, through which 
a great river runs to the North." 

"Then" said Tongo, "I can go directly toward the place 
of the going down of the sun, so this must surely be the 
country that the arrow maker meant, when he told me not 
to bear to the North any longer after the rivers began to 
flow northward." 

Tongo now had new obstacles to meet, because of the 
mountains he had to pass, but his new friends directed him 
to a pass through which he might travel and one of the young 
men went a distance with him, to point out the way. 

After a few days of traveling over the rough, and in 
many ^^laces, unbroken path, he came to a valley well on 
to the close of the day. He thought "surely, this cannot be 
the valley that my friends told of, as the great river is not 
here." But, it was not his mission to find the river but to 
find the Cave of the Sun. Every nightfall he had watched 
the setting of the Sun, if, perchance, he might find his dwell- 
ing place. This night he was, as usual, looking toward the 
sun, when suddenly it seemed to him that the sun came above 
the top of a hill in the distance and then sank directly into 
it. 

48 



Tongo, jDeering at the sight with all the earnestness of 
his nature, filled with certain hope, exclaimed, "Surely I 
have found his dwelling place!" and he set his face stead- 
fastly to gain the goal of his quest. With strong heart he 
traveled toward the spot where he saw the sun disappear; 
through the twilight, far into the evening, he wandered on. 
Fortunately for him, the sky was clear and there was nearly 
a full moon, which aided him much in his search. Weary, 
l)ut exultant, he came to the top of the hill and began his 
liunt for the Cave. Facing westward, he saw a dark place, 
like the opening to some chamber; he drew near to see if, 
by any chance, it might be what he was seeking. When he 
came to it, he was rejoiced to find an actual opening into 
the hill. He said, "At last, I have found the dwelling place 
of the sun, for did I not, with my own eyes, see him enter? 
And here, surely, is the evidence." 

Tongo went to the entrance without delay and called 
out: "O Spirit, O Mighty One, who dwells in the sun, I 
have come to sj)eak to Thee ; come out to me or bid me come 
to Thee." And he waited but no answer came. He only 
heard the hollow echo of his own voice; then he called again, 
using the same words, and still no answer. 

Then Tongo said within himself, "Surely He must be 
asleep or he would answer me. I will go and light a fire 
and eat ; then I will call upon him again, and maybe he will 
hear me." So he went aside a little way and kindled a fire 
and ate his parched corn and drank from a spring he found 
at hand. Clearly he could see, by the light of the fire he 
had made, what this entrance looked like. 



49 



THE GOAL IS REACHED 

It was very spacious and over the entrance was an im- 
mense rock, covering the entire doorway. He stopped and 
called again: "O Great Spirit, bid me come to Thee; I 
have traveled a great distance to speak with Thee for the 
peace of my people. Bid me come, not alone for my sake, 
but for their sakes. I have come, not the easiest way, but 
through forests, over rocks and through streams. I have not 
complained, but hoped the end would make my sufferings 
of no account. Now, I pray you, hear me and bid me come 
to Thee." But there was no answer. Again he cried aloud, 
but he only heard the echoes of his own voice. He went back 
to his fire and sat a long time, thinking what he should do; 
but he had come for an object and it seemed to him he could 
not go away without accomplishing what he had come so far 
to do. 

Preparing a torch, he said, "If the Great Spirit sleeps, 
I must go an awaken him out of his sleej)." He threw his 
quiver of arrows over his shoulder, took his bow in one hand 
and the torch in the other, and taking with him the robe the 
old arrow maker gave him, once more came to the cave. He 
entered cautiously, looking both to the right and the left, 
fearing lest some wild beast might have made his home there ; 
but he saw nothing. 

60 




Tongo considers the words of the old arrow maker, 
lays aside his blanket and puts on the white robe. 

51 



At length he advanced more boldly, calling occasional!}' 
to the Great Spirit. 

The beauty of the great Cave surpassed anything he 
had ever seen. Great columns of marble reached from the 
top to the bottom of the Cave and the walls were covered 
with drapery of alabaster. He went from one chamber to 
another, searching, but no sound did he hear, except the 
echo of his own voice. Finally he came to a room with a 
mighty stone chair, and he said: "This, surely, must be the 
seat of the Great Spirit, but he is not here." Then he saw 
the great stone curtains, reaching from the ceiling nearly to 
the floor; he thought the Great Spirit had just pulled them 
aside to go out, but no voice came nor did he see any one. 
But he again took up his search and wandered through many 
chambers of the caverns, amid marble columns and majestic 
structures of many colors, resplendent in the light of the 
torch he was carrying, j^et he wondered, with all the evidence 
of the presence of the Great Spirit, why he neither saw nor 
heard any one. But, our hero had been so engrossed bj?^ the 
marvelous scene that he had witnessed that he had scarcely 
thought of himself and when he came to an open court he 
stopped and began to consider the words of the old arrow 
maker; how he told him he should dress with the white robe 
so that he might be worthy to meet the Great Spirit. There- 
fore, he laid aside his blanket, took the quiver of arrows from 
his shoulders and laid them, with his bow, on the blanket, 
then, unfolding the white robe, he threw it about his 
shoulders, fastened it, took up his torch and prepared to go 
forward, when he noticed a dark space, like a door, directly 
before him and as the light from his torch shone through, 

53 



there was reflected back a light as of crystal from within. 
Tongo felt himself weakening, but summoning all his cour- 
age, he went forward and entered the mysterious room. 

The sight that met his eyes was beyond anything he 
yet had seen and baft'led all description. Lying before him, 
in a basin of the rock, w^as a beautiful body of crystaline 
w^ater over which hung myriads of stalactites, reaching down 
their sharp ^^oints from the ceiling and reflecting in the light 
a thousand tints and colors which seemed to sway with the 
light and shadows, as he lifted his torch on high, and his 
heart was filled with awe and wonder, whicli increased with 
every movement of his eyes. Then he looked at the waters 
of the Silver Sea, where he saw reproduced the reflection of 
the ceiling in its glorious beautj^ and as he gazed the water 
seemed to disappear and he could see only one deep chamber 
of glory. Walking out on a rock that overhangs the ^vater, 
still looking down upon it, he saw his own image reflected, 
with the white robe and the flaming torch and so mystified 
was he that he thought he saw the Great Spirit coming from 
below to meet him. So filled w^as he with the glory of his 
presence and so firmly was the image imprinted upon his 
vision, that, as he withdrew from the rock, he saw nothing 
but the shining form, which still seemed to come toward him. 
He raised his hands and tried to sj^eak but the fear and awe 
of the presence of the Spirit overcame liim and he could not. 
His fingers gradually loosened and his torch fell to the floor 
and was extinguished. 

He felt an arm placed around him and he was gently 
led away, where, he knew not, nor how far he knew not, until 

54 




Tongo thinks he sees the Great Spirit 
55 



suddenly he sank down and lay as though in a trance and 
he heard a voice say to him: "Tongo" and he answered, 
"Here I am"; and the voice said again: "Tongo, look upon 
me" and he opened his eyes and saw the Shining One stand- 
ing before him, clothed with a white robe, and the Shining 
One said, "I am the Creator of the World and the One whom 
you seek. You have made a mistake, as I do not dwell in 
the sun as you have thought, but I dwell in the hearts of 
men. - 1 have seen thee in thy wanderings and have not been 
far from thee at any time. I have seen thy faithfulness and 
thy perseverance and know of the good purpose of tlty heart ; 
therefore, I have heard thee and will grant thy prayer. Thy 
people shall have peace a thousand years. But, thou shalt 
come with me ; leave that body where it is ; it is of no account. 
Come and see the reward I shall give thee and thy people." 

And Tongo said- "I pray thee, tell my people of the 
true way, that thou and not the sun rule the world; they 
will worship thee." And his Creator gently said: "I will 
teach them — tomorrow; but, know this, that a day with me 
is as the thousand years of peace which I shall bring to thy 
jjcople." 

So Tongo passed away, to be forever with his Master. 



PEACE 



Back by the James River, among Tongo's people, Bright 
Eyes had been faithful all the time her brother had been 
gone. She had gone to the prayer rock morning and even- 
ing, stretching her liands towards the sun; imploring the 
Great Spirit for protection for Tongo. 

On the evening that Tongo came to the Cave, she had 
spent the time on the prayer rock until the twilight had 
deepened; it seemed to her that her heart would break with 
sadness and she could scarcely speak. When her father and 
mother saw her coming, they knew there was something 
wrong and they said: "Bright Eyes, what is the trouble 
with you?" 

But she could not answer; she came and stood before 
the lodge, gazing off to the westward. Swiftfoot came and 
said to her: "Daughter, come into the lodge and eat; you 
are not strong today." Bright Eyes did as requested but 
she could not eat nor could she speak a word, but went again 
into the night and walked before the lodge. Her father 
again wxnt to her and said: "Daughter, why do you grieve 
your mother and father? Tell us what is the matter. Come 
in and sleep." 

So she came in and lay down but still she could not 
speak nor could she sleep. Again she arose and walked 



before the lodge. Her parents, greatly distressed, talked 
together, wondering what they should do, as they were 
alarmed for their little daughter. Until midnight they pon- 
dered the question; as they talked, they looked up and there, 
in the doorway of the lodge stood Bright Eyes, with her 
hands outstretched; she uttered a piercing cry and fell to 
the ground as though dead. Her parents wrapped her in 
a blanket, kindled anew the fire and Swiftfoot ran for the 
medicine man of the tribe. He came and burned incense 
before the door of the lodge until morning. Swiftfoot and 
Smiling Blossom watched over their beloved daughter, who 
still breathed, but barely. 

As the sun was rising in the East, and as they watched 
the face of their child, they seemed to see a look of comfort 
and peace come over her face. She opened her eyes and 
smiled. Then she murmured: "It is well; I have seen 
Tongo. He has talked with the Great Spirit and all people 
shall have peace for a thousand winters. But, Tongo will 
not return; he must stay with the Master." 

And so it was; from that time until the day of the Pow- 
atans, peace reigned in that country and not until the 
white man came to spread discord was there either war or 
famine ; and not till the Iroquois came down from the North 
did the tribes war upon or pillage one another. 

THE END 



FINALE 



No life well lived is ever wasted, 
For though we pass, 
Each life we've met is better, 
For the spell of love cast o'er it. 
For the sum of li\(e is love. 
And love brings peace. 

So Tongo, though his years were few. 
Left mingled love and peace, 
He smote upon the clouds of war. 
And broke them, 

And the sun of peace shone through. 
For full a thousand years. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




014 367 330 3 • 




■~'^^. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



014 367 330 3 



Hollinger 

pH S3 

MiURimF03.2193 



